Edie McClurg

Edie McClurg (born July 23, 1945) is an American retired actress and comedian. She has played supporting roles in the films Carrie, Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986), and Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (1988), and bit parts in Cheech and Chong's Next Movie (1980), Mr. Mom (1983) Back to School (1986), Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987), A River Runs Through It (1992), Natural Born Killers (1994), Flubber (1997), and Air Bud: Spikes Back (2003).

On television, McClurg had a recurring role on WKRP in Cincinnati as Herb Tarlek's wife, Lucille. She regularly performed on The David Letterman Show, before playing Bonnie Brindle in Small Wonder (1985–1987) and Mrs. Patty Poole on The Hogan Family (1986–1991). As a one-off character, she appeared in Alice, Mr. Belvedere, Roseanne, Full House, Seinfeld, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Malcolm in the Middle, Hannah Montana, Crashbox, and Portlandia. She has also appeared in numerous commercials.

As a voice actress, she played in The Secret of NIMH (1982), The Little Mermaid (1989), A Bug's Life (1998), the first two films of the Cars franchise (2006-2011), and Wreck-It Ralph (2012), as well as in Snorks (1984–1988), Life with Louie (1995–1998), and Violet Bleakman in Clifford the Big Red Dog (2000–2003).

Early life and education McClurg was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, to LaVerne Charles “Mac” McClurg, a mailman, and Mabel “Irene” Josephine Hawkins, an FAA secretary. She had an older brother, Bob (Robert ), who was an actor and comedian. She attended twelve years of Catholic elementary and high school, then the University of Missouri–Kansas City in the mid-1960s where she got her BA in 1967 and where she also taught radio for eight years. She earned a master's degree from Syracuse University in 1970.

At the University of Missouri–Kansas City, McClurg re-entered the entertainment field as a DJ, newswoman, and producer for the NPR affiliate KCUR-FM. There she portrayed John Ehrlichman in Conversation 26 of NPR's national broadcast of the Nixon Tape transcript.

After the Pitschel Players, she joined the Groundlings improv troupe. She worked with fellow Groundling player Paul Reubens on his first play The Pee-wee Herman Show, in which she appeared in 1981 as "Hermit Hattie". She also appeared in the 1988 film Elvira: Mistress of the Dark with fellow Groundling player Cassandra Peterson, who appeared as her alter ego Elvira.

Early roles McClurg's screen debut was as Helen Shyres in Brian De Palma's 1976 horror film Carrie starring Sissy Spacek. She was a comedy regular on the Tony Orlando and Dawn variety show (1976–1977) and then a cast member of The Kallikaks and The Richard Pryor Show. In 1980, McClurg regularly performed on The David Letterman Show as Mrs. Marv Mendenhall. She went on to appear in almost 90 films and 55 television episodes, usually typecast as a middle-aged, somewhat stubborn, and dim-witted Midwesterner. Willamae Jones in the television remake of Harper Valley PTA (1981), Mrs. Patty Poole on The Hogan Family (originally "Valerie") (1986–1991), Bonnie Brindle on Small Wonder (1985–1987), and Mrs. Beeker on 7th Heaven (1996–2006).

McClurg had numerous appearances on other television programs. She portrayed one of the wicked stepsisters in the Faerie Tale Theatre television production Cinderella. She portrayed a nurse nicknamed "Angel of Death" in an episode of The Golden Girls. She guest-starred in episodes of Alice, The Jeffersons, Diff'rent Strokes, Mr. Belvedere, Roseanne, Full House, Seinfeld, Melrose Place, Touched by an Angel, Married... with Children, Caroline in the City, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Malcolm in the Middle, Portlandia, Rules of Engagement, and Two and a Half Men among others. She appeared in an episode of Hannah Montana as Cindy Merriweather. She guest starred as Barri's mother in an episode of Campus Ladies. McClurg also appeared on several game shows, including Match Game, The $25,000 Pyramid, Password Plus, and Super Password, and appeared in numerous commercials.

Film McClurg also played in a number of films including Helen Shyres in Carrie (1976), Gloria's Mom in Cheech and Chong's Next Movie (1980), the check out lady in Mr. Mom (1983), Grace in Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986), Marge Sweetwater in Back to School (1986), the car rental agent in Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987), Lynn in She's Having a Baby (1988), a secretary in Curly Sue (1991), Mrs. Burns in A River Runs Through It (1992), Heather Wilson in Natural Born Killers (1994), Martha George in Flubber (1997), Esther in Hanging Up (2000), Gram Gram in Air Bud: Spikes Back (2003), and Mrs. Gertrude in Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star (2003).

Animation McClurg is also known for a number of animated roles. She voiced Miss Right in The Secret of NIMH (1982), Barsa in Kiki's Delivery Service (1989), Carlotta in The Little Mermaid (1989) and The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea (2000), a nurse in The Rugrats Movie (1998), Dr. Flora in A Bug's Life (1998), Molly in Home on the Range (2004), Minny in Cars (2006) and Cars 2 (2011), Mary in Wreck-It Ralph (2012), and Gerda in Frozen (2013). She also voiced the offscreen "Polite Female Voice" in the Revolting Slob segments on Crashbox, Fran on Higglytown Heroes, the Dragon in the Nightmare Ned video game, Mrs. Claus in Holidaze: The Christmas That Almost Didn't Happen, Grandma Taters in The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius, Violet Stimpleton in Rocket Power, Bea's mother in Fish Hooks, Winnie Pig in Tiny Toon Adventures: How I Spent My Vacation, Mrs. Violet Bleakman on Clifford the Big Red Dog, Bobby's teacher in Bobby's World, and Trudi Traveler in an episode of Wander Over Yonder. McClurg contributed assorted voices for The Jetsons, The Snorks and Life with Louie.

Stage 2003: It's Edie in Here (solo show), Groundlings Theatre, West Hollywood, CA. Whirly June: A Midwestern Woman (solo show), Zephyr Theatre, Hollywood, CA.

Other roles Continuing her passion for performing improvised comedy, McClurg studied improvisation with Viola Spolin, and became a player with Spolin Players. TMZ further reported that a conservator, McClurg's cousin, Angelique Cabral, had been appointed.

In August 2022, the lawyer for the conservatorship filed court documents alleging that McClurg had been abused by a man who had befriended her, moved into her home, and became a court-approved caregiver. The documents allege the man sexually assaulted her and a police report had been filed by the Los Angeles Police Department. They further allege that the man tried to remove her from the state to marry her. The judge for the conservatorship granted an order of protection at hearings in September 2022. 1983

Check Out Lady 1984

The Queen

Donna

Grace Wheelberg

Marge Sweetwater 1987

Car Rental Agent

Lynn

Chastity Pariah

Barsa Voice, 1998 Disney English dub Television

1976

Regular

Venus Kallikak 5 episodes

Various roles 4 episodes (including 2 uncredited) 1978

Esther Greene Episode: "A Home Run for Love"

Episode: "The Trip"

Unknown episodes 1979–1980

Lucille Tarlek 3 episodes 1979, 1984

Betty 2 episodes

Willamae Jones 12 episodes

Sister Mary Catherine Episode: "Sanctuary"

Imogene Episode: "Sharples vs. Sharples"

Switchboard Operator Episode: "Working"

Marion 5 episodes

Solaria 6 episodes

Audrey Blume Episode: "Death Smiles on a Dry Cleaner"

Various roles Unknown episodes

13 episodes

Louise Episode: "Am I Blue?"

Mrs. Seabottom, Tara Seaworthy Voice, unknown episodes

Kathleen Wheeler Episode: "Promises, Promises"

Woman on TV Episode: "And Up We Go"

Bertha Episode: "Cinderella"

Episode: "Elroy in Wonderland"

Telula, Selma Voice, 2 episodes 1985–1987

Bonnie Brindle 12 episodes

Beauty Salon Customer Episode: "Camille"

Fannie Episode: "Pilot"

Penny Nichols Episode: "Reunion" 1986–1991

Mrs. Patty Poole 88 episodes

Mathilda Voice, episode: "The Emperor's New Clothes"

Unknown episode(s) 1990, 1992

Various roles Voice, 2 episodes 1990–1993

Aunt Ruth Generic Voice, 5 episodes

Episode: "Trading Faces"

Nurse DeFarge Episode: "Beauty and the Beast"

Lucille Tarlek Episode: "Lotto Fever"

Principal Marilyn Ridge 17 episodes

Winnie Pig Voice, 2 episodes The Paragon of Comedy (1983 – television special) Christmas Everyday (1986 – television special) Tiny Toons Spring Break (1994 – television special) Life with Louie: A Christmas Surprise for Mrs. Stillman ... Ora Anderson (1994 – television short) Nightmare Ned ... Storytelling Dragon (1997 – video game) Escape from Monkey Island ... Miss Rivers (2000 – video game) Clifford the Big Red Dog: Thinking Adventures ... Violet Bleakman, Traffic People (2000 - video game) Stinky Pierre (2003 – television short) Clifford the Big Red Dog: Phonics ... Violet Bleakman (2003 - video game) Tak 3: The Great Juju Challenge ... Stone Crusher (2005 – video game) Toot & Puddle: I'll Be Home for Christmas (2006 – direct-to video animated film) What's Wrong with Ruth ... Mother (2007 television short animation) The Outlaw Emmett Deemus ... Mary (2008 – short film) Stage Two ... Maggie's Mom (2008 – short film) The Not Goods Anthology: This Is Absolutely Not Good ... Herself (2010 – video short) dated. ... Edie (2011 – video short) Heal Thyself ... Doris Green (2012 – Short film) Curious George Swings Into Spring ... Lydia / Mom / Lady (2013 – video animation) The Gift ... Old Lady (2014 – short film) Eyes Upon Waking ... Nurse Jane (2014 – short film) How to Become an Outlaw (2014)

Theatre The Pee-wee Herman Show ... Hermit Hattie / Clockey (1981)